About vs. Of — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on March 25, 2024
"About" implies a relation to or concern with something, often used to indicate subject matter or proximity, whereas "of" denotes possession, origin, or relation, emphasizing a more specific connection.
Difference Between About and Of
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
"About" is commonly used to indicate a topic or subject matter, suggesting a broad relation or concern with something. For example, in the sentence "She wrote a book about her adventures," "about" introduces the subject of the book. On the other hand, "of" is used to express possession or belonging, as in "The sound of the ocean," where "of" indicates that the sound belongs to the ocean, pointing towards a more specific and direct connection between two elements.
While "about" can also suggest approximation or nearness in terms of time or place, such as in "He will arrive about 5 PM" or "I'm about the corner," "of" is often used to denote origin or source, for instance, "a man of noble birth." This illustrates how "of" can signify where something or someone comes from, unlike "about," which is more flexible in expressing relations that are not strictly about possession or origin.
"About" serves in constructions that denote movement around a particular area or subject, as in "walking about the town" or "talking about politics," suggesting a general or unspecified vicinity or topic. Conversely, "of" is essential in expressions of quantity, measurement, or composition, such as "a cup of tea" or "a group of people," highlighting the element of belonging to a larger whole or being part of a category.
In the realm of expressing concerns or matters, "about" is versatile, fitting into contexts where the exact nature of the relationship is open to interpretation, like "concerned about the future." Whereas "of" solidifies specific relationships or compositions, such as in "the pages of the book," emphasizing a defined connection or inclusion within a set or collection.
The usage of "about" often conveys a sense of vagueness or generality, especially in statements like "There were about ten people at the meeting," where it indicates an approximate number. In contrast, "of" tends to clarify and specify, particularly in constructions that define parts of a whole or membership in a group, reinforcing its role in delineating precise relationships.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Basic Function
Indicates relation to or concern with something, proximity, or subject.
Denotes possession, origin, belonging, or a specific relation.
Usage in Context
Used for general or approximate descriptions.
Used for specific connections and compositions.
Relation and Proximity
Suggests a broader, less defined connection or nearness.
Indicates a direct and specific connection or belonging.
Indication of Quantity or Measurement
Less commonly used for quantity, more for approximation.
Often used to specify parts of a whole or quantities.
Expressing Movement or Action
Implies movement around or concerning a topic.
Rarely used to express movement, focuses on static relationships.
Compare with Definitions
About
On the verge of.
The company is about to launch a new product.
Of
Belonging to.
The lid of the pot is missing.
About
Relating to.
The movie is about ancient Rome.
Of
Relating to.
The legend of King Arthur.
About
Approximately.
There are about 100 pages left to read.
Of
Originating from.
People of Italian descent.
About
Present in a given area.
He's somewhere about the house.
Of
Associated with.
A man of his word.
About
Concerning.
We need to talk about your plans.
Of
Made from.
A dress of silk.
About
On the subject of; concerning
It's all about having fun
I was thinking about you
A book about ancient Greece
Of
Expressing the relationship between a part and a whole.
About
Used to indicate movement within a particular area
She looked about the room
Of
Expressing the relationship between a scale or measure and a value
An increase of 5%
A height of 10 metres
About
Used to express location in a particular place
Rugs were strewn about the hall
He produced a knife from somewhere about his person
Of
Indicating an association between two entities, typically one of belonging, in which the first is the head of the phrase and the second is something associated with it
A photograph of the bride
The son of a friend
The government of India
A former colleague of John's
About
Used to indicate movement within an area
Men were floundering about
Finding my way about
Of
Expressing the relationship between a direction and a point of reference
North of Watford
About
Used to express location in a particular place
There was a lot of flu about
Of
Expressing the relationship between a general category or type and the thing being specified which belongs to such a category
The idea of a just society
The population of interbreeding individuals
This type of book
The city of Prague
About
(used with a number or quantity) approximately
He's about 35
Reduced by about 5 per cent
Of
Following a noun derived from or related to a verb.
About
Approximately; nearly
The interview lasted about an hour.
Of
Where the head of the phrase is a predicative adjective
I am certain of that
It was kind of you to ask
About
Almost
The job is about done.
Of
Indicating the relationship between a verb and an indirect object.
About
To a reversed position or direction
Turn about and walk away slowly.
Of
Indicating the material or substance constituting something
Walls of stone
The house was built of bricks
About
In no particular direction
Wandering about with no place to go.
Of
Expressing time in relation to the following hour
It would be just a quarter of three in New York
About
All around; on every side
Let's look about for help.
Of
Derived or coming from; originating at or from
Customs of the South.
About
In the area or vicinity; near
Spoke to a few spectators standing about.
Of
Away from; at a distance from
A mile east of here.
About
In succession; one after another
Turn about is fair play.
Of
So as to be separated or relieved from
Robbed of one's dignity.
Cured of distemper.
About
On the verge of doing something; presently going to do something. Used with the infinitive
The chorus is about to sing.
Of
From the total or group comprising
Give of one's time.
Two of my friends.
Most of the cases.
About
Usage Problem Used to show determination or intention in negative constructions with an infinitive
I am not about to concede the point.
Of
Composed or made from
A dress of silk.
About
On all sides of; surrounding
I found an English garden all about me.
Of
Associated with or adhering to
People of your religion.
About
In the vicinity of; around
Explored the rivers and streams about the estate.
Of
Belonging or connected to
The rungs of a ladder.
About
Almost the same as; close to; near.
Of
Possessing; having
A person of honor.
About
In reference to; relating to; concerned with
A book about snakes.
Of
On one's part
Very nice of you.
About
In the act or process of
While you're about it, please clean your room.
Of
Containing or carrying
A basket of groceries.
About
In the possession or innate character of
Keep your wits about you.
Of
Specified as; named or called
A depth of ten feet.
The Garden of Eden.
About
Moving here and there; astir
The patient is up and about.
Of
Centering on; directed toward
A love of horses.
About
Being in evidence or existence
Rumors are about concerning his resignation.
Of
Produced by; issuing from
Products of the vine.
About
In a circle around; all round; on every side of; on the outside of.
The snake was coiled about his ankle.
Of
Characterized or identified by
A year of famine.
About
Over or upon different parts of; through or over in various directions; here and there in; to and fro in; throughout.
Rubbish was strewn about the place.
The children were running about the room.
He was well known about town.
Of
With reference to; about
Think highly of her proposals.
Will speak of it later.
About
Indicates that something will happen very soon; indicates a plan or intention to do something.
Of
In respect to
Slow of speech.
About
(with 'to' and verb infinitive) See about to.
Of
Set aside for; taken up by
A day of rest.
About
On the point or verge of.
Of
Before; until
Five minutes of two.
About
Concerning; with regard to; on account of; on the subject of; to affect.
He talked a lot about his childhood.
We must do something about this problem.
Of
During or on a specified time
Of recent years.
About
Concerned with; engaged in; intent on.
To be about one's business
Of
By
Beloved of the family.
About
Within or in the immediate neighborhood of; in contiguity or proximity to; near, as to place.
I can't find my reading glasses, but they must be somewhere about the house.
John's in the garden, probably somewhere about the woodshed.
Of
Used to indicate an appositive
That idiot of a driver.
About
On one's person; nearby the person.
I had no weapon about me but a stick.
Of
(Archaic)On
"A plague of all cowards, I say" (Shakespeare).
About
(figurative) In or near, as in mental faculties or (literally) in the possession of; under the control of; at one's command; in one's makeup.
He has his wits about him.
There was an air of confidence about the woman.
Of
Expressing distance or motion.
About
On all sides; around.
I looked about at the scenery that surrounded me.
Of
From (of distance, direction), "off".
About
Here and there; around; in one place and another; up and down.
Bits of old machinery were lying about.
Of
Since, from (a given time, earlier state etc.).
About
From one place or position to another in succession; indicating repeated movement or activity.
Walking about;
Rushing about;
Jumping about;
Thrashing about
Of
From, away from (a position, number, distance etc.).
There are no shops within twenty miles of the cottage.
About
Indicating unproductive or unstructured activity.
Messing about;
Fooling about;
Loafing about
Of
Expressing separation.
About
Nearly; approximately; with close correspondence in quality, manner, degree, quantity, or time; almost.
It's about as cold as it was last winter.
He owes me about three hundred dollars.
Dinner's about ready.
I was so scared, I about fainted.
Of
Indicating removal, absence or separation, with the action indicated by a transitive verb and the quality or substance by a grammatical object.
Finally she was relieved of the burden of caring for her sick husband.
About
Near; in the vicinity.
Of
Indicating removal, absence or separation, with resulting state indicated by an adjective.
He seemed devoid of human feelings.
About
To a reversed order; half round; facing in the opposite direction; from a contrary point of view.
To face about;
To turn oneself about
Of
(obsolete) Indicating removal, absence or separation, construed with an intransitive verb.
About
(nautical) To the opposite tack: see go about.
We went about and headed offshore.
Of
Expressing origin.
About
In succession; one after another; in the course of events.
Of
Indicating an ancestral source or origin of descent.
The word is believed to be of Japanese origin.
About
(archaic) In circuit; circularly; by a circuitous way; around the outside; in circumference.
A mile about, and a third of a mile across
Of
Introducing an epithet that indicates a birthplace, residence, dominion, or other place associated with the individual.
Jesus of Nazareth (after hometown)
Anselm of Canterbury (after diocese)
Anselm of Aosta (after birthplace)
Anselm of Bec (after monastery)
Pedro II of Brazil (after dominion)
Mrs Miggins of Gasworks Road, Mudchester (after place of residence)
About
Moving around; astir.
Out and about;
Up and about
After my bout with Guillan-Barre Syndrome, it took me 6 months to be up and about again.
Of
Indicating a (non-physical) source of action or emotion; introducing a cause, instigation; from, out of, as an expression of.
The invention was born of necessity.
About
In existence; being in evidence; apparent.
This idea has been about for a while but has only recently become fashionable.
Of
(following an intransitive verb) Indicates the source or cause of the verb.
It is said that she died of a broken heart.
About
Near; in the vicinity or neighbourhood.
I had my keys just a minute ago, so they must be about somewhere.
Watch out, there's a thief about.
Of
(following an adjective) Indicates the subject or cause of the adjective.
I am tired of all this nonsense.
About
Around; all round; on every side of.
Of
Expressing agency.
About
In the immediate neighborhood of; in contiguity or proximity to; near, as to place; by or on (one's person).
Of
(following a passive verb) Indicates the agent (for most verbs, now usually expressed with by).
I am not particularly enamoured of this idea.
About
Over or upon different parts of; through or over in various directions; here and there in; to and fro in; throughout.
Lampoons . . . were handed about the coffeehouses.
Roving still about the world.
Of
Used to introduce the "subjective genitive"; following a noun to form the head of a postmodifying noun phrase (see also 'Possession' senses below).
The contract can be terminated at any time with the agreement of both parties.
About
Near; not far from; - determining approximately time, size, quantity.
He went out about the third hour.
Of
(following an adjective) Used to indicate the agent of something described by the adjective.
It was very brave of you to speak out like that.
About
In concern with; engaged in; intent on.
I must be about my Father's business.
Of
Expressing composition, substance.
About
On the point or verge of; going; in act of.
Paul was now aboutto open his mouth.
Of
(after a verb expressing construction, making etc.) Used to indicate the material or substance used.
Many 'corks' are now actually made of plastic.
About
Concerning; with regard to; on account of; touching.
She must have her way about Sarah.
Of
(directly following a noun) Used to indicate the material of the just-mentioned object.
She wore a dress of silk.
About
On all sides; around.
'Tis time to look about.
Of
Indicating the composition of a given collective or quantitative noun.
What a lot of nonsense!
About
In circuit; circularly; by a circuitous way; around the outside; as, a mile about, and a third of a mile across.
Of
Used to link a given class of things with a specific example of that class.
Welcome to the historic town of Harwich.
About
Here and there; around; in one place and another.
Wandering about from house to house.
Of
Links two nouns in near-apposition, with the first qualifying the second; "which is also".
I'm not driving this wreck of a car.
About
Nearly; approximately; with close correspondence, in quality, manner, degree, etc.; as, about as cold; about as high; - also of quantity, number, time.
Of
Introducing subject matter.
About
To a reserved position; half round; in the opposite direction; on the opposite tack; as, to face about; to turn one's self about.
Of
Links an intransitive verb, or a transitive verb and its subject (especially verbs to do with thinking, feeling, expressing etc.), with its subject-matter; concerning, with regard to.
I'm always thinking of you.
About
On the move;
Up and about
The whole town was astir over the incident
Of
(following a noun (now chiefly nouns of knowledge, communication etc.)) Introduces its subject matter; about, concerning.
He told us the story of his journey to India.
About
(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct;
Lasted approximately an hour
In just about a minute
He's about 30 years old
I've had about all I can stand
We meet about once a month
Some forty people came
Weighs around a hundred pounds
Roughly $3,000
Holds 3 gallons, more or less
20 or so people were at the party
Of
(following an adjective) Introduces its subject matter.
This behaviour is typical of teenagers.
About
All around or on all sides;
Dirty clothes lying around (or about)
Let's look about for help
There were trees growing all around
She looked around her
Of
Having partitive effect.
About
In the area or vicinity;
A few spectators standing about
Hanging around
Waited around for the next flight
Of
(following a number or other quantitive word) Introduces the whole for which is indicated only the specified part or segment; "from among".
Most of these apples are rotten.
About
To or among many different places or in no particular direction;
Wandering about with no place to go
People were rushing about
News gets around (or about)
Traveled around in Asia
He needs advice from someone who's been around
She sleeps around
Of
(following a noun) Indicates a given part.
About
In or to a reversed position or direction;
About face
Brought the ship about
Suddenly she turned around
Of
Some, an amount of, one of.
On the whole, they seem to be of the decent sort.
About
In rotation or succession;
Turn about is fair play
Of
Links to a genitive noun or possessive pronoun, with partitive effect (though now often merged with possessive senses, below).
He is a friend of mine.
About
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; `near' is sometimes used informally for `nearly' and `most' is sometimes used informally for `almost';
The job is (just) about done
The baby was almost asleep when the alarm sounded
We're almost finished
The car all but ran her down
He nearly fainted
Talked for nigh onto 2 hours
The recording is well-nigh perfect
Virtually all the parties signed the contract
I was near exhausted by the run
Most everyone agrees
Of
Expressing possession.
Of
Belonging to, existing in, or taking place in a given location, place or time. Compare "origin" senses, above.
He was perhaps the most famous scientist of the twentieth century.
Of
Belonging to (a place) through having title, ownership or control over it.
The owner of the nightclub was arrested.
Of
Belonging to (someone or something) as something they possess or have as a characteristic; the "possessive genitive". (With abstract nouns, this intersects with the subjective genitive, above under "agency" senses.)
Keep the handle of the saucepan away from the flames.
Of
Forming the "objective genitive".
Of
Follows an agent noun, verbal noun or noun of action.
She had a profound distrust of the police.
Of
Expressing qualities or characteristics.
Of
Links an adjective with a noun or noun phrase to form a quasi-adverbial qualifier; in respect to, as regards.
My companion seemed affable and easy of manner.
Of
Indicates a quality or characteristic; "characterized by".
Pooh was said to be a bear of very little brain.
Of
Indicates quantity, age, price, etc.
We have been paying interest at a rate of 10%.
Of
Used to link singular indefinite nouns (preceded by the indefinite article) and attributive adjectives modified by certain common adverbs of degree.
It's not that big of a deal.
Of
Expressing a point in time.
Of
During the course of (a set period of time, day of the week etc.), now specifically with implied repetition or regularity.
Of an evening, we would often go for a stroll along the river.
Of
For (a given length of time).
I’ve not tekken her out of a goodly long while.
Of
(after a noun) Indicates duration of a state, activity etc.
After a delay of three hours, the plane finally took off.
Of
Denotes the number of minutes before the hour;Before (the hour); to.
What's the time? / Nearly a quarter of three.
Of
(usually in modal perfect constructions) have, chiefly in depictions of colloquial speech.
Of
In a general sense, from, or out from; proceeding from; belonging to; relating to; concerning; - used in a variety of applications; as:
Of
Denoting possession or ownership, or the relation of subject to attribute; as, the apartment of the consul: the power of the king; a man of courage; the gate of heaven.
Of
Denoting the material of which anything is composed, or that which it contains; as, a throne of gold; a sword of steel; a wreath of mist; a cup of water.
Of
Denoting part of an aggregate or whole; belonging to a number or quantity mentioned; out of; from amongst; as, of this little he had some to spare; some of the mines were unproductive; most of the company.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
It is a duty to communicate of those blessings we have received.
Of
Denoting that by which a person or thing is actuated or impelled; also, the source of a purpose or action; due to; as, they went of their own will; no body can move of itself; he did it of necessity.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts.
Of
Denoting reference to a thing; about; concerning; relating to; as, to boast of one's achievements; they talked of many things.
Knew you of this fair work?
Of
Denoting nearness or distance, either in space or time; from; as, within a league of the town; within an hour of the appointed time.
Of
Denoting identity or equivalence; - used with a name or appellation, and equivalent to the relation of apposition; as, the continent of America; the city of Rome; the Island of Cuba.
Of
Denoting the agent, or person by whom, or thing by which, anything is, or is done; by.
And told to her of [by] some.
He taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.
[Jesus] being forty days tempted of the devil.
Of
Denoting relation to place or time; belonging to, or connected with; as, men of Athens; the people of the Middle Ages; in the days of Herod.
Of
Denoting passage from one state to another; from.
Of
During; in the course of.
Not be seen to wink of all the day.
My custom always of the afternoon.
Why, knows not Montague, that of itselfEngland is safe, if true within itself?
Common Curiosities
What does "about" indicate in a sentence?
"About" indicates a relation to or concern with something, often used for subject matter or proximity.
Can "about" be used for approximate numbers?
Yes, "about" is used for approximation, such as in "about 50 people attended."
What does "of" convey in terms of origin?
"Of" denotes origin, showing where something or someone comes from, like "a woman of Irish heritage."
How is "of" used to show possession?
"Of" denotes possession by linking an object to its owner, as in "the book of John" meaning John owns the book.
What is the role of "of" in expressing quantities?
"Of" is often used to express quantities, especially when specifying parts of a whole.
Is "about" specific or general?
"About" is generally more flexible and can be used for both specific and general contexts, often indicating a broader relation.
Can "about" imply movement?
Yes, "about" can imply movement around a place or within a subject area.
How does "about" differ from "of" in expressing concern?
"About" is used to express a general concern or subject matter, whereas "of" is used to highlight specific relations or possessions.
Can "of" be used to indicate material composition?
Yes, "of" indicates material composition, as in "made of gold."
How does "of" relate to belonging?
"Of" establishes belonging by linking an item, idea, or person to a group, owner, or origin.
Does "about" always mean exactly or approximately?
"About" often means approximately, especially in the context of numbers or time, but it can also refer to the subject matter exactly.
How does "of" specify relationships?
"Of" specifies relationships by establishing a clear, direct connection or belonging between two elements.
What kind of proximity does "about" indicate?
"About" indicates a general or approximate proximity, either in space or regarding a topic.
Is "of" used in idiomatic expressions?
Yes, "of" is used in many idiomatic expressions to signify various specific relationships or qualities.
How are "about" and "of" used in literature?
In literature, "about" is used to introduce themes or topics, while "of" is often used to establish connections, origins, or possessions within the narrative.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Fastigium vs. Pediment
Next Comparison
Interface vs. ClassAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
